At the SCCE Compliance & Ethics Institute, former WorldCom auditor Cynthia Cooper described the physical and emotional strain she endured while probing dubious “prepaid capacity” entries in 2002. Her relentless questioning set off a chain reaction that led to WorldCom’s bankruptcy and the conviction of its chief financial officer.
Cooper emphasized that she never felt fearless; her hands shook and her heart raced as she confronted the company’s CFO and audit committee chair. The session highlighted the personal courage required to challenge profit‑driven pressures and underscored the broader lesson that ethical work often demands discomfort.
Source: Corporate Compliance Insights